"ISLE OF DREAMS"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 112, 16 November 1928, Page 5

"ISLE OF DREAMS"

BEAUTIFUL PORTO RICO WEALTH OF PLANT LIFE Porto Rico, now recovering slowly from the effects of the disastrous hurricane, h:is been called the "Isle of Dreams," stales the "New York Times." The novel forms of plant life, the almost unbroken succession of balmy golden days,, the constant sighing of the trade wind in the trees, all give a newcomer' from the temperate zone the feeling that it is not quite real. Life there is so easy, agreeable, peaceful, that he feels sometimes as if ho were in a trance, far removed from actuality. The vegetation of Porto Eico is of fascinating interest to the plant student. Besides many varities. of -palm trees, there arc bitter almonds, mangoes, oranges, limes, and grapefruit. One finds a thrill of novelty in sending a yard-boy shinning up one's own coconut tree to get a coconut for dessert. At first one is surprised to see limes instead of lemons used for iced lea and on fish, but one comes to prefer limes on account of their finer flavour and their cheapness. They sell at four for 1 cent, and are brought to the door by native vendors. Oranges ordinarily cost 6 cents a dozen. The mango is one of the beautiful tropical trees. It is in thick foliage all the year round; its leaves are a rich, glossy green. The fruit, somewhat oval in shape, hangs at the end of a stem at, least a foot long, limp as a shoo lace. Then there is the Santa Maria tree, with purplish pink bell-shaped blossoms. THE "MAN'S LOVE" BLOSSOMS. Another interesting Porto Rican plant is the vino called Corazoit do Houibre ("Man's Love"). This luxuriant vine has long, narrow, dull green leaves, bearing clusters of tubular blossoms ending in an irregular number of petals somewhat like those of a daisy. The flower, of a waxy texture, is at first pure -white; later faint streaks of pink appear, gradually spreading until the whole blossom is a lovely shade of coral. This deepens finally into blood red, whence the poetic name expressive of its evolution. A remarkable tree is the manzanilla, or "little apple," from which emanates a poison so subtlo that weary travellers stopping to rest under its inviting shade are said" to have never waked again. Still another is the ylangylang^ specimens of which shed their fragrance over the charming Plaza at Ponce, on the south coast. The frangipani, from, which is made a costly perfume, grows wild in the woods. Many kinds of cactus lay snares for the unwary. Besides, there is the poralita vine, with clusters of clear, bright pink; the showy bougainville, the delicate plumbago, hibiscus, both red and pink, and the brilliant poinsettia, which often reaches the second-story windows of. a dwelling. In the forests are graceful tree ferns, wild oranges, and tiny orchids far more exquisite than those in the florists' shops.' The coconut is one of Porto Eico's most useful trees. Tho juico of the green coconut is much valued as a I drink by the natiyes. American soldiers found it useful first in the war with 'Spain. Frozen, with a little sugar added, it becomes a refreshing sherbet. Coconut ice. cream is made from the milk of tiic riper fruit, and an even more delicious dainty is made by freezing a mixture of half coconut and half pineapple juice. Porto Eicon coffee. is particularly aromatic. This year's crop suffered heavily in tho hurricane; The natives have their own way of coffee roasting, one which does hot appeal to many Ainercans. They mix coffee with sugar and burn it, the process resulting in a strong, pungent flavour. Throughout the island main roads are fine and beautiful, Yauco road goes through the town of Yauco, whose i houses cling to tho sides of its hills, and climbs to a point from which the sea can be seen beyond. The American railroad skirts the island, and, while the trains are slow and inclined to linger at every town, it is a trip worth taking. On account of tho mountainous .character of the island, the road is at times forced out almost to tho water's edge; in places the spray from the sea. comes near dashing into the windows. •